10.

A KSEL

“I’m honestly not sure how to feel about you changing your decision to let Stassi go to Washington with you,” Maribel said before she sighed deeply and shook her head. “What am I saying? Like anyone can tell that woman what to do.”

“We’ve certainly never been able to,” Vivienne reminded her.

Cas took a sip of his tea and said, “Aksel makes a very good argument about the fact that her powers will bolster us, but I’m still on the fence because Stassi can be so impulsive when she’s angry or upset.”

“That’s true,” Vivienne agreed.

“It would be ideal if there was some way to make sure she wouldn’t lose her temper and go off half-cocked. Isn’t there something we can use to help keep her calm? What do you suggest, Clarisse?”

“Chloroform.”

When I burst out laughing, Cas said, “I was talking about a spell.”

“Cas, I have come to realize in the last day or two that you have absolutely no faith in my ability to be a responsible witch, and that just makes me want to prove you wrong,” Stassi said as she appeared in the living room with a backpack and a duffle bag. “It also makes me want to set you on fire, but in your eyes, that would be too predictable, so I’ve managed to restrain myself.”

“I have to admit that I’ve considered that a few times myself,” Nikki admitted with a big grin aimed at her mate.

“You have?” Cas asked.

“Well, not today,” Nikki hedged.

“I’m packed and ready,” Stassi said as she set her bags down at the end of the couch. She smiled as she walked across the room toward the empty chair. I was pleasantly surprised when, rather than take the open seat, she sat on the arm of the couch next to me. “Were you able to make the arrangements for Sin?”

“I did,” Clarisse said with a grimace.

“What arrangements?” Aksel asked.

“One of Clarisse’s friends - the woman who lives on the Tempest property - is having issues with her mother,” Clarisse explained. “She’s a horrible human that they believe is up to no good, so they want her watched.”

“I’ve been keeping an eye on her at work, but Sin thought it might be helpful to have someone with her when she's not at work too.”

“So, I asked Aloisa to show up and ingratiate herself with the woman to keep an eye on her,” Clairsse explained. “Apparently, Aloisa has met Aleta before and wasn’t thrilled with the prospect, but when she found out that Tivvie wasn’t available, she agreed anyway.”

“Where’s Tivvie?” I asked, referring to a cat shifter that I’d become friends with years ago.

Cat shifters came in all breeds and sizes, and although most were wild cats, there were quite a few who were domestic breeds, usually ones that had a long history and mythological reputation. I knew for a fact that Aloisa was a Norwegian Forest cat, which would fit right in with the weather of Colorado, so it might make sense that there was a stray who needed a home, if that was what they wanted Aleta to believe.

Tivvie, another domestic cat shifter, was also a large cat breed - a Maine Coon, the same breed that my Aunt Clarisse could shift to at will and also the breed of the two familiars that lived here in the house with her, although they usually kept to themselves rather than socialize with anyone other than Clarisse.

“She’s already working a job for me,” Cas explained. “Aloisa needed to take a more laid-back assignment this round, so it worked out perfectly.”

“I’m glad. Sin is worried about what’s going on with Aleta and her family. Apparently, the woman wants more than anything to go back to the cult life she came from, and she’s willing to sacrifice her young daughters to get there,” Stassi said. She seemed pensively quiet before she finally asked, “So, what sort of promises and vows do I have to make to get you to approve my coming along, Cas?”

Cas looked thoughtful, and I was worried about what he might say. Stassi was notorious for her quick temper, especially where I was concerned, but I hated that he didn’t trust her. However, I was pleasantly surprised when he said, “I want nothing more than for you to come with us, Stassi, but I’m worried that you might see some things that will upset you.”

“Why would they upset me and not the rest of you?” she asked.

“Because we’ve never been held at a place like we imagine they have there, but you have. It will probably bring horrible memories rushing back to the surface.”

“That compound wasn’t my entire life, just a portion of it. I have wonderful childhood memories of my parents when I was very young and even some good memories of my mother during our time in captivity there. Yes, horrible things happened, but they don’t define me any more or less than the good things that happened there.”

“That’s good to know. I have to admit that having you with us is going to help me in another way too,” Cas admitted. “I want to know what’s drawing you back to Chehalis because I have an idea that it might have something to do with Anna, Ivan’s wife.”

“She’s not dead,” she blurted. When Vivienne gasped, Stassi said, “I can feel her. I think that’s why the pain was so overwhelming for Ivan when he was in Washington. They have been able to somehow mask her from him, which was likely made easier considering the distance between Washington and Colorado. However, when he was in the area and in such close proximity to her, that shroud was thrown back and he could feel her again. I’m sure he didn’t want to dare hope that was the case, so his brain just cataloged it as more physical pain instead.”

“But Cas saw Anna’s body,” Maribel insisted.

“I saw pieces of a bird that had been in a horrible accident as well as the ring that Anna was never without. I assumed, especially considering the pain Ivan was going through at the loss of his mate, that she was dead,” Cas explained.

“But he’s been getting more and more ill as time goes on and . . .” Vivienne argued.

“But was he, though? Was he ill because he lost her or ill because of their forced separation?” Clarisse asked.

Nikki ran her hand up and down Cas’ forearm before she gripped his hand tightly. He smiled at her and said, “I felt horrible pain when I was too far from Nikki, but there wasn’t a hole in my heart where she was missing because she was alive and well. Ivan was describing that void and I believe that it was spellwork, not death, that gave him the feeling.”

“So, Ivan has just been weakening because he’s been apart from his mate for so long,” Clarisse explained. She shook her head and said, “No, I can’t say that with any guarantee, but that’s what I want to believe because I loved Anna very much. She was a dear friend of ours for a very long time, and I want more than anything to have her back in Mereu, not just for Ivan, but for all of us.”

“And by leaving Ivan here and taking Stassi, you can find an answer without getting Ivan’s hopes up,” I surmised. I knew I was right when Cas and Clarisse both nodded. When I looked at Stassi, she had a sad smile, and I knew she felt for her aunt and our old friend because they missed Anna so much. “That’s a good idea.”

“I think so too,” Stassi agreed. “I don’t know how to explain what I feel when I think of Chehalis. It’s like there’s something calling me there, and it has to be Anna. I made sure there was no one left before I ran into the woods that night.”

I remembered the charred remains of the settlement that Drasil had led me to and knew she was right. There was no way someone could have survived that - or was there?

◆◆◆

“Wouldn’t it make more sense to stay closer to the different locations?” Stassi asked when the Town Car we were riding in pulled into the parking lot of the hotel. “Why aren’t we staying at the . . .” Stassi suddenly got quiet, and she stared at the driver for a second before she looked back at me. “Sorry. I should have thought of that earlier, but now we’re free to talk. If we let anything slip on the ride over, I’ve taken care of that too.”

“Oh, really?” Cas asked.

“I’ll take care of the other drivers as they unload just in case . . .”

“I’m sure Genji has taken care of him,” I assured Stassi.

“I’ll check, but once we’re settled in upstairs, I’d like to get everyone together so I can cast a spell to make sure we’re not accidentally overheard by anyone else.”

“How will you do that?” Cas asked.

“I’ll cast it over our small group so that we can understand each other perfectly, but anyone listening to us talk will hear . . . Ubbi Dubbi sounds good, don’t you think?”

“What?” Cas and I asked at the same time.

“Amy and Penny spoke that language because Sheldon and Leonard kept talking in Klingon.”

“Who?” we said in unison again.

“Even though you’re both ancient, you should pay attention to current events and pop culture, guys. Watch a little television occasionally. Jeez.”

I still had no idea who she was talking about as the driver pulled up under the portico and stepped out to get the door. Once he had it open, he went back to the trunk to get our luggage. I exited and turned to give Stassi my hand to help her out of the car. She smiled shyly at me.

“What are you thinking right now?” I murmured as I pulled her close.

“I was thinking that I love it when you play the gallant gentleman almost as much as I love it when you get all dominating and growly.”

“Growly?”

“Don’t harsh my good vibes, Aksel,” Stassi warned.

“I would never dream of it,” I assured her. “How are you feeling? Is the ache worse?”

Stassi put her hand on her chest and grimaced before she nodded. “It steadily became more intense the closer we got to Chehalis, but I can manage it.”

“Do you need to lay down for a while before we get together this evening?”

“We’re not going out until after dark, right?” When I nodded, she looked up at the sky and said, “That means we have a few hours.”

“Yes. You can get some rest and . . .”

“Rest? Who needs rest? It’s a hotel, Aksel.”

“That’s generally what they’re for, Stassi. ”

“Hmm. Such snark. I was thinking that the best way for me to get a good nap is after a mind-blowing orgasm, but with that attitude, I might just have to go for the prize by myself.”

“Like hell you will,” I growled.

“Want to watch?”

“I’m beginning to think that I like the two of you better when you’re yelling at each other,” Cas grumbled as he walked past us toward the door.

“Are they at it again?” Neema asked before she glanced at us with a look of disgust. “Goodness, children. You’re going to wear it out.”

“After all these years on earth, you still think that’s possible?” Genji asked. “Is that why you haven’t dated since the 80s?”

Neema scoffed and was just about to reply when Cas said, “The 1880s, Genji. You have to be more specific.”

“Do you really want to get into a conversation about dating with me, Genji?” Neema asked with a sly grin. “Where were you in the 80s?”

“Which ones?” Genji asked with a big smile. “Some were better than others.”

“Stassi wants us to get together upstairs so she can work on a spell,” I said as I took Stassi by the hand and followed our friends. “She’s going to make everyone think we’re speaking Ubbi Dubbi something or other.”

“Like Penny and Amy!” Neema said excitedly.

“You know who that is?” I asked.

“You don’t?”

“I told him he needs to work on his pop culture, but he doesn’t listen,” Stassi said as she walked through the lobby toward the elevator.

“With his advanced age, he probably didn’t hear you. After a certain number of decades, the hearing starts to go,” Cas said with a grin.

Just because I knew how much it irritated Cas to hear Stassi and I speaking suggestively to each other I said, “Yeah, the hearing might go but the stamina just gets better, wouldn’t you say, Stassi?”

“Oh, yes,” she said before she moaned loudly. “So much, yes.”

“Why did I let you come again?”

“I can honestly say that you’ve never been involved in anything having to do with whether I come or not, Cas. That’s Aksel’s job,” Stassi sassed as she bounced past him into the elevator car to join the cackling women.

Adair and I joined in their laughter when Cas mumbled, “This is going to be a very long week.”

◆◆◆

STASSI

The pain in my chest was almost unbearable, but I knew there was no other choice but to keep moving in the hopes that I could find some relief. The idea that Ivan’s mate, Anna, was alive somewhere nearby kept me going. I wanted more than anything to find her well and whole so we could return her to the arms of the man who had missed her so much over the last few years.

In the twenty-four hours since we’d arrived in Washington, Genji and Neema had exhibited skills that I had no idea were even possible, and those skills led us to where we were right now - the middle of nowhere surrounded by trees and wildlife. As the eldest of the group, the two vampires had abilities unlike any other supernaturals I’d ever met. While sitting in the hotel, miles and miles away, they had somehow figured out exactly where we needed to start looking, and none of us balked at the idea when we realized it was in the opposite direction of where we had originally planned to search.

It seemed like this was near the place where I’d been held with my mother, but there was no way to be sure. Progress had changed the landscape over the years. It had been so long since Aksel and I were here that the idea of finding the exact spot where we first met was almost laughable.

However, Genji and Neema directed Cas to drive into the middle of nowhere on a road overgrown with foliage and brush on either side and then informed him that he should stop so we could get out. Now the women walked ahead of our search party while we waited on Cas to return after he had shifted and flown off to scout the area.

The canopy of trees blocked out any stars that might be visible tonight. Considering the weather here, it was highly probable the sky was clouded over, but if I could see them overhead, they might just help keep the feeling of claustrophobia at bay that I felt in this dense area of the forest. The six of us - Genji, Neema, Adair, Aksel, Cas, and myself - had left the rented SUV in a turnout nearly hidden by low-hanging branches on the side of the road. Since then, we’d trekked at least a mile through the forest, and the further away we got from the SUV, the more my chest ached.

When I performed the spell on Ivan to help him with his pain, I had only meant to transfer a portion of it to me so that he could at least function long enough to get back to Mereu where my aunts could care for him. As usual, I underestimated my powers and took it all but not for a short time like I had planned. Instead, it seemed that I would feel this way for the rest of my life, which was a daunting thought considering I was immortal.

The shifter blood I had from my father mixed with my mother’s magic had given me immortality, and the fact that I had been turned into a vampire made that even more so. I could still be killed, but it would be much harder for someone to accomplish. However, since I was feeling Ivan’s misery, my aunts were worried that I had also taken his shortened life span along with his physical weakness, something that happened when a shifter lost their lifemate.

None of us were positive that was the case, especially since I did have vampire qualities, but considering the discomfort I was feeling, I wasn’t sure how long I could live like this anyway. My time with Aksel, exploring not just each other but also our new relationship, helped give me hope that I could last, but at times like this when every cell in my body ached, I wasn’t sure how.

My odd DNA aside, the thought of living like this for the rest of my time on earth made me consider something I’d never thought of before - the sweet release of death. I wondered if Aksel would miss me the same way Ivan missed Anna even though he wasn’t a shifter and vampires didn’t always have a true lifemate like they did. Some were lucky enough to find one they loved that much, but unfortunately, most just moved from one relationship to another - albeit with decades or even centuries between them.

Immortality was a lonely existence, but it was difficult to say forever when that was what it actually meant. Forever. Not just fifty or sixty years until old age took our body and mind before our family had to bury us and mourn. Immortals like Neema and Genji - beings that had seen so much time pass and so many things change during their time on earth - thought of forever in different terms than mortals, and beings like me felt much the same but to a lesser extent.

I was relatively young in the grand scheme of things, having been turned when I was just eighteen - and that was only 125 years ago. So much had changed since I escaped the compound when I was almost twenty-one. Now we had cars and planes, schools and governments, with food and drink at our fingertips. That hadn’t been the case when I was very young, and only because of my love of history could I understand how things had been when the friends around me were young.

I was jerked out of my musings when Genji stopped abruptly and I almost slammed into her back. Her head was tilted as if she was listening to something in the distance, and Neema mirrored her stance.

I listened closely but didn’t hear anything, but I could suddenly smell people. Not just one or two either. There were at least a dozen with only one or two women in the group. I sniffed the air again and realized there were children too. Their sweet smell was almost intoxicating because of their blood that was so pure. It would be ambrosia to any vampire who was horrible enough to drink from them.

“Children,” I whispered, since Genji , Neema, and Adair had mental blocks so that people couldn’t speak silently to their minds. I cast a spell like a dome over our group to make sure that no one outside it could hear us before I said in a normal tone, “Maybe two women, a few children, and probably at least a dozen men.”

I heard the caw of a raven and then the fluttering of wings before Cas appeared from behind a tree not far from us.

In a quiet whisper, he said, “I spotted fourteen men . . .”

“Stassi spelled the area, so you can talk freely,” Aksel interrupted.

Cas nodded before he said, “It looks like at least six of them are guarding the building that houses a few weakened men and young women along with three toddlers and an infant.”

“They’re prisoners?”

“Kept in cells. The women are with the children in a very small room in the middle, and the men are chained in cages in a large connecting room. I couldn’t get into the building, just to the windowsill, but that’s what I was able to see.”

“What kind of beings are we talking about here?” Aksel asked.

“Shifters or vampires?” Adair asked at the same time.

“Both, and some of them are a mixture.”

“Like me?” I asked.

“There’s at least one witch in the group, but I couldn’t discern which man it was. I felt power coming from him, though.”

“What I wouldn’t give to be able to materialize like Mayne can,” I heard Adair mumble.

Aksel laughed. “He can fly too.”

“He can float,” Neema scoffed. Suddenly, she disappeared, and I heard her voice say, “He can’t do it when he’s invisible.”

“There she goes,” Genji said cheerfully.

“You said that there were at least fourteen men, right?” Adair asked. “Mortals?”

“Some of them seem like it, but it’s hard to tell. They remind me of . . .”

When Cas’s voice trailed off, I discerned that he was uncomfortable, so I asked, “Are they like me?”

“I believe so. There are others that seem like humans but have animal features.”

Genji made a strange noise, and when I looked at her, she seemed to be in a trance. Suddenly, she crumpled to the ground, and before any of us had a chance to react, Adair and Aksel did the same thing. I looked at Cas in shock and saw him wince. When he started to sway, I whispered, “There’s someone casting a spell. Fly away, Cas! Hurry!”

“I can’t . . .”

“If you can get away, you can bring help. I’ll watch over them until you come back. Go!”

“I’m sorry,” Cas whispered right before he transformed into a huge raven and shot into the sky. I heard his loud caw an instant before I felt a blinding pain in my skull and felt myself start to fall. The last thought I had before my head hit the ground was to wonder if Cas’s caw was one of pain or freedom.